Overview of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, otherwise known as ADHD, is a very common brain disorder that is predominantly found in children but can continue through adulthood (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2012). It prevents individuals from focusing their attention, and individuals often have trouble with their conduct due as well (hyperactivityto hyperactivity or , impulsivity). Brain imaging studies have revealed that the brain matures normally in youth with ADHD, but it is delayed an average of 3 years. The delay is most profound in the brain region involving planning, thinking, and paying attention. More recent studies have found that the outer layer of the brain showed overall maturation delays, and some abnormal growth patterns in the brain structure that is involves proper communication (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2012). The key behaviors of ADHD are impulsivity, inattention, and hyperactivity. Other symptoms of ADHD include difficulty staying focused on a specific task, paying attention to the task at hand, difficulty controlling behavior and impulses, and hyperactivity. These symptoms can make it very difficult for a child or adult with ADHD to succeed in school, get along with others, or finish tasks at home or in the workplace (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2012). It is normal for a child to be hyperactive, inattentive, and impulsive at times, but for children with ADHD, it is much more severe and it occurs more often than the average child. The underlining symptoms are not the only thing a person must be concerned about when getting a diagnosis of ADHD. There are coexisting conditions and other issues that can be a... ... middle of paper ... ...ficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. Retrieved from MayoClinic: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/adhd/basics/definition/CON-20023647?DSECTION=all&p=1 Robert, L. (2013, September). ADHD Treatment Driven by Parents’ Preferences. Retrieved from Psychiatric Times: http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/adhd/adhd-treatment-driven-parents’-preferences U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2012). Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. (NIMH) Retrieved from National Institutes of Mental Health: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder/index.shtml Visser, S. N., Blumberg, S., Danielson, M., Bitsko, R., & Kogan, M. (203, Jan). State-Based and Demographic Variation in Parent- Reported Medication Rates for Attention- Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, 2007–2008. CDC: Preventing Chronic Disease .

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